CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Civil Liberties Union is going to court to challenge the constitutionality of a new law that limits the time period third parties have to petition their way onto the ballot.

The federal court lawsuit filed Tuesday on behalf of the Libertarian Party claims the law that took effect July 22 makes it difficult, if not impossible, for the Libertarian Party to qualify as a political party in future general elections.

The law says third parties may not gather signatures to petition their way onto ballots before Jan. 1 of the election year.

Gilles Bissonnette, staff attorney for the NHCLU, says the law is almost identical to one a Rhode Island federal judge deemed unconstitutional in 2009.

Bissonnette is asking the court to declare New Hampshire's law unconstitutional.